Business, Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Irish pallet firm moves into deepsea

[ July 6, 2012   //   Chris ]

Independent Express Cargo, one of the founding members of The Pallet Network in Ireland, is expanding into deepsea forwarding in order to offer its customers a one-stop-shop for all freight requirements. The Dublin company has set up a deepsea division to strengthen its shipping activities.

IEC chairman Owen Cooke said: “We have always handled some international container business. Now we are seriously going into the deepsea market in a more structured and organised way.”

The deepsea division will focus primarily on imports from China and South East Asia, but will arrange import and export movements from and to anywhere in the world.

“The China and South East Asia market is big and growing,” Cooke points out. “We have wanted to serve that market for some time, but couldn’t find the right partners. Now we have, we feel we can offer our customers a better rate than our competitors, as well as maintain our high service levels by ensuring documentation, customs clearance and so on are organised before the cargo arrives at its destination.

“The crucial thing is getting space on vessels, which isn’t always easy, particularly at short notice. We can do this now because our Asia partners have huge buying power with the shipping lines and we can leverage that for our clients benefit.”

IEC’s deepsea service is also available to all members of The Pallet Network, so their customers throughout Ireland can benefit from IEC’s international expertise. “Network members can sell our service to their clients – and all of them have clients who move cargo from the Far East to Ireland,” adds Cooke.

Tags: deepsea, Dublin, Independent Express Cargo, The Pallet Network